Weird Pets You Can Own: Skunks

Skunks have one obvious drawback which is why they’ve never really taken off as pets until recently: their smell. However, domesticated skunks have their scent glands removed when they are young, which makes them safe to keep around the house. Once you get over their less-than stellar reputation, keeping a skunk as pet is similar to owning a cat or a ferret. But as with most pets, if you want to have a strong bond with them you have to give them extra attention when they’re young.

Before you go off joining the Pepe Le Pew fan club, you’ll need to find out if a pet skunk is legal in your state. It’s still illegal to own a skunk in most states, so don’t get your hopes up. If you do get one, you can plan on it keeping you company for around ten years.

Otters

If you keep thinking to yourself “You know what? I have too much nice stuff in my home”, an otter can fix that problem for you in a moment’s time. Owning an otter is like unleashing Taz the Tasmanian Devil inside your house.

Otters are frequently described as “ferrets on crack” and it’s pretty apt. They will go through every inch of your home, finding and playing with (and probably destroying) everything they can get their paws on. Sure, you’ll probably have a lot of funny moments to capture on camera, just be prepared to pay a steep price for them.

From a legal standpoint, owning an otter can be trickier than a skunk, but it is possible. They love water so it is best if you have a body of water nearby for them to frolic in. You’ll also need access to plenty of fish.

Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders are quickly becoming America’s new exotic pet darling. Small and very adorable, sugar gliders have a distinctive membrane stretching from its front to hind legs which allows them to glide from tree to tree. It is unlikely that they will make much use of that membrane in captivity, but they should still be kept in large areas with plenty of stuff to climb.

Sugargliders are marsupials from Australia, but are actually part of the opossum family. Since they are still categorized as exotic pets, ownership restrictions vary from state to state. One important thing to note about sugar gliders – they are nocturnal. It is very hard for them to adapt to a daytime schedule so they are mostly recommended for people who are active at night themselves.